Edward Gibbon’s Set
The Life and Exploits of the ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote de la Mancha. Translated from the Original Spanish…by Charles Jarvis.
Engraved frontis. port. of Cervantes by Virtue, several engraved head-pieces, & 67 engraved plates. xxiii, [8], [xxv]-xxxii, vi, [2], 90, [14] (first leaf a blank), 355 pp.; xii, 388 pp. Two vols. Large 4to, cont. speckled calf (joints very expertly repaired), spines gilt, brown & green morocco lettering pieces on spines. London: J. & R. Tonson & R. Dodsley, 1742.
First edition of this esteemed translation and a wonderful association copy; this set belonged to Edward Gibbon and bears his bookplate in each volume. Gibbon was known for the wide range of his reading and he refers to this work in several of his letters and writings. He clearly liked this text; he owned an Ibarra edition in Spanish (1782), two editions of Smollett’s translation (1755 and 1770), and the present edition.
Jarvis (1675-1739), was a portrait painter and translator. A part of the literary circle of Addison, Pope, and Swift, his stylized portraits of society ladies were very fashionable. Jarvis advised Sir Robert Walpole in forming his art collection and was appointed king’s painter in 1723. “His major literary undertaking was an English translation of Cervantes’ Don Quixote. Published posthumously in 1742 and frequently reprinted, it is generally acknowledged as being close in spirit to the original.”–ODNB.
The superb engravings are mostly signed by John Vanderbank (1694-1739), painter and draughtsman. They were first used in the 1738 quarto edition of Don Quixote issued by the Tonsons in the original Spanish.
The 90 pages in Vol. I print the first English translation of Mayans & Siscar’s important Life of Cervantes.
Fine and handsome set with his fine armorial bookplate in each volume. Minor rubbing and wear to extremities.
Price: $22,500.00
Item ID: 5807
